We’re an alliance of design and build professionals on a mission to reduce our waste by 50% in the next five years.
Niche Interiors is proud to have earned the United States Green Building Council Health and Wellness badge, signifying expertise and leadership in promoting wellness in residential spaces.
Niche Interiors specializes in sustainable, health-conscious design for homes throughout San Francisco Bay Area, the Peninsula and throughout California. Principal designer Jennifer Jones is a LEED Accredited Professional (USGBC) and has earned the Health & Wellness badge from the United States Green Building Council. Our interior designers use our material expertise to optimize your home for wellness and healthy indoor air quality – from selecting non-toxic finishes and fabrics to designing custom, chemical-free upholstery.
At Niche Interiors, we design homes that restore you. We start with natural light, planning layouts and window treatments that let daylight reach as far into the home as possible. We arrange seating to make the most of views and indoor-outdoor flow, and we bring in living greenery, because a connection to nature has been shown to lower stress. Natural materials like oak, stone, wool and linen add warmth and texture.
Calm matters just as much. Our restrained modern luxury approach means editing with intention: fewer, better pieces, a soft palette drawn from nature, and storage that keeps clutter out of sight (which has been shown to lower stress). Bedrooms are layered with soft organic textiles and warm, dimmable lighting optimized for rest. The result is a home that’s beautiful and also helps our clients feel rested, centered and at ease.
Skip the flame retardants, go organic. Standard upholstered goods are made from polyurethane foam (poly-foam) wrapped in dacron. Both materials are man-made and petroleum-based. They contain isocyanates and polyols that are highly flammable and can be treated with flame-retardant chemicals to reduce combustibility. The chemicals in these flame retardants have been linked to a wide range of health problems such as impaired fertility and IQ and developmental problems in children.
At Niche Interiors we design custom upholstered goods made with natural latex foam wrapped in organic wool. Natural latex is made from collected sap from rubber trees — it’s an organic byproduct that does not off-gas harmful toxins. We support local business and reduce our carbon footprint by using local San Francisco workrooms to build our custom, eco-friendly upholstery.
Opt for furniture made from solid wood such as walnut, teak, oak or maple. Wood furniture is typically held together by basic wood joinery techniques, ensuring a stronger bond and requiring less adhesives, which are the main culprits in harmful VOC emissions. Be sure to ask if the wood is sustainably harvested or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified, which is the gold standard for sustainable wood products.
Avoid furniture composed of MDF or particleboard, which is made from compressed shavings or sawdust held together by synthetic resins, binders and glues. One of the ingredients often found in these adhesives is formaldehyde, which can cause wheezing, nausea, and severe allergic reactions and is known to cause cancer in animals.
Choose natural fibers such as wool, cotton, or jute over synthetics. Wool is naturally fire retardant unlike its artificial counterparts, which are prone to igniting more easily. Wool absorbs moisture and captures dust or pollen, thus reducing humidity and allergens in the air. The majority of rugs we specify for our San Francisco Bay Area interior design projects are either 100% wool or a wool and silk blend.
Synthetic rugs are often made from nylon, acetate, or polyester. These man-made fibers are highly flammable and are often treated with synthetic chemicals to reduce flammability, increasing the potency of toxins off-gassing into your home. If you are sensitive to chemicals or odors, off-gassing from newly installed synthetic rugs and carpets may cause headaches, dizziness, or nausea.
Learn More: Responsible RugsChoose zero-VOC or low-VOC paints. We like Benjamin Moore’s Eco Spec and Aura lines, which are available in a wide range of colors.
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